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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed Holling Hoodhood, the main character. His conviction that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him is expressed with such humor and certainty. I admired her understanding that his home life wasn't as wonderful and it appeared and that he Holling had great potential. I thought the author addressed the Viet Nam war with sensitivity and the issues of the 60's with true understanding. As someone who was a child in the 60's & early 70's, I felt that this book rang true to the era.
This seventh grader gets himself into a lot of trouble, but eventually learns lessons about life due to the Shakespeare plays he reads and his persistent English teacher, Mrs. Baker. I enjoyed the book and the insights about life it gives, but I had to knock it down a star because of the 7th and 8th grade antics - many of the students are not good examples of wholesome and uplifting characters that I would want my own children to emulate. Yes, I realize they are 7th and 8th graders, but still. There was also some slap-stick/potty-ish humor that middle schoolers would think is hilarious, but does nothing for me.
This took me 30 days to read it’s a nice middle grade book but it’s really slow paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Funny and witty but not as memorable as Lizzie Bright
I read this book anticipating a light-hearted novel about a 7th-grader in Vietnam War-era America. I wasn't disappointed - I laughed and laughed and laughed. I was surprised by how much depth the novel had, though, as it deals with issues like wartime prejudice. Rated G.
I can't really do this book justice in my review, so I'm including an excerpt:
"And then, suddenly, there he was. Doug Swieteck's brother, on the other side of Camillo Junior High, waiting for a school bus to turn the corner so that he could grab on to its bumper and have it pull him along on the icy roads.
"It was what eighth graders whose career goal was the state penitentiary did.
"The school buses were driving around town even though no cars were because Mr. Guareschi was principal of Camillo Junior High, and Mr. Guareschi wouldn't have let the school close right before the New York State Standardized Achievement Tests even if the Soviet Union had started raining atomic bombs on the entire east coast of the United States. I heard that from Mr. Petrelli himself, and it's probably true.
"So the buses were driving on ice, and they all pulled in late, and you only had to look at the drivers' faces to see they were all mad at Mr. Guareschi. I figured that the only one who was happy in the whole school was Mr. Ludema, Doug Swieteck's brother's teacher, because Doug Swieteck's brother stayed out until the last bus came in.
"But even if Mr. Guareschi could control the school buses like the dictator of a small country, he couldn't control the Long Island Power Company, which that morning was spending its time not giving electricity to most of its customers---including Camillo Junior High. You couldn't have raised a spark of electricity anywhere. Any light that came into the classrooms was from the windows, and on a day of gray tattered clouds, that wasn't much.
"So we sat in the half-dark, in our coats, in the cold."
I can't really do this book justice in my review, so I'm including an excerpt:
"And then, suddenly, there he was. Doug Swieteck's brother, on the other side of Camillo Junior High, waiting for a school bus to turn the corner so that he could grab on to its bumper and have it pull him along on the icy roads.
"It was what eighth graders whose career goal was the state penitentiary did.
"The school buses were driving around town even though no cars were because Mr. Guareschi was principal of Camillo Junior High, and Mr. Guareschi wouldn't have let the school close right before the New York State Standardized Achievement Tests even if the Soviet Union had started raining atomic bombs on the entire east coast of the United States. I heard that from Mr. Petrelli himself, and it's probably true.
"So the buses were driving on ice, and they all pulled in late, and you only had to look at the drivers' faces to see they were all mad at Mr. Guareschi. I figured that the only one who was happy in the whole school was Mr. Ludema, Doug Swieteck's brother's teacher, because Doug Swieteck's brother stayed out until the last bus came in.
"But even if Mr. Guareschi could control the school buses like the dictator of a small country, he couldn't control the Long Island Power Company, which that morning was spending its time not giving electricity to most of its customers---including Camillo Junior High. You couldn't have raised a spark of electricity anywhere. Any light that came into the classrooms was from the windows, and on a day of gray tattered clouds, that wasn't much.
"So we sat in the half-dark, in our coats, in the cold."
One of my very favorite Young Adult books. Excellent characters and story!!! The title and cover don't quite convey the story. MANY laugh out loud moments and many lump in my troat moments. I LOVE it! One I'll read over and over again. Chrysanthemum! (You'll have to read it to figure out what that means :)
7/17/22 Just listened to the excellent audio version of this and was reminded of why I love this story so much!
7/17/22 Just listened to the excellent audio version of this and was reminded of why I love this story so much!
What a great, fun, Shakespeare-inspiring read for kids! I enjoyed this so much I'm planning to read it aloud to my 7th & 8th graders. No objectionable elements that need commenting on; and it's got a bit of something for everyone - jocks, theater nerds, misfits, kids who feel like they don't measure up, Catholics, Jews, Presbyterians, oh and Yankees fans (because they obviously deserve their own category). Kids will love all the crazy-yet-relatable events that happen; and teachers will love just how much Shakespeare this kid is forced to read in one year. :-)
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes